New year, new dramas! 2018 is already here! How did that even happen? But that means it’s time to see what the new year has in store for us drama wise. Are you ready? Let’s see what we have to look forward to in this January 2018 edition of “Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching.” This monthly series is meant to keep you updated on what’s happening in the world of Korean dramas so that you don’t miss out on anything!

Here are the kdramas you need to keep an eye out for in January 2018:

My Pick:

1. Radio Romance

This drama sounds sweet and heartwarming and should have some moving stories. I look forward to seeing Kim So Hyun back on my screen as well as her pairing with Yoon Doo Joon.

Radio Romance is about a top radio DJ (Yoon Doo Joon) who can’t do anything without a script and the program’s writer (Kim So Hyun) who isn’t really that good at writing. It follows stories of healing through their radio show as they fall in love.

Radio Romance is scheduled to premiere January 29 on KBS.

PREMIERING IN JANUARY:

2. Longing Heart

Longing Heart is a fantasy romantic comedy about a man (Lee Jung Shin) who travels back in time to win the heart of his first love (Lee Yeol EUm) with the knowledge that she actually liked him back then. But much to his surprise, he ends up having to compete against his past self (Seo Ji Hoon) for her affections.

Longing Heart is scheduled to premiere January 8 on OCN.

3. Mother

Mother is a remake of the popular Japanese drama of the same name and is about a woman (Lee Bo Young) who kidnaps an abused little girl and becomes her mother.

Mother is scheduled to premiere January 24 on tvN.

4. Cross

Cross is about a man (Go Kyung Pyo) who becomes a doctor in order to get revenge by taking the lives of those responsible for his father’s death, but he slowly grows and learns the true meaning of being a doctor.

Cross is scheduled to premiere January 29 on tvN.

5. Return

Return follows the story of a murder case with the suspect coming from the children of the elite class. Go Hyun Jung plays a lawyer who is the host of a legal TV show with Lee Jin Wook as a detective.

Return is scheduled to premiere January 17 on SBS.

CURRENTLY AIRING IN JANUARY:

6. Hwayugi

Hwayugi is a romantic comedy horror loosely based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West about the journey of a monk and four others to atone for their sins. The drama moves the story to the modern day where the trouble making Monkey King (Lee Seung Gi) is exiled to the human world without his powers because of his corruption. He seeks to restore them with the help of a wealthy realtor (Oh Yeon Seo) descended from monks who can unseal them. The two then work to battle evil spirits together.

Hwayugi airs Saturday and Sunday on tvN.

7. Bad Guys 2: Age of Evil

Bad Buys 2: Age of Evil follows a group of prosecutors and criminals who team up to catch other criminals. Starring Joo Jin Mo, Park Joong Hoon, Kim Mu Yeol, Ji Soo, and Yang Ik Jun.

Bad Guys: Age of Evil airs Saturday and Sunday on OCN.

8. Just Between Lovers

Just Between Lovers is about a man (Junho) who loses everything when his father is killed in accident and he also severely injures his leg ending his dream of being a soccer player. Now deep in debt with little to live for, he then meets a woman (Won Jin Ah) who changes his life. The drama tells the stories of people who struggle but persevere in order to make something of themselves.

Just Between Lovers airs Monday and Tuesday on JTBC.

9. Black Knight

Black Knight is a fantasy romance that follows the dangerous fate of a man (Kim Rae Won)and a woman (Shin Se Kyung) over two hundred years.

Black Knight airs Wednesday and Thursday on KBS.

10. I’m Not a Robot

I’m Not a Robot is about a man (Yoo Seung Ho) that is allergic to humans and falls in love with a woman (Chae Soo Bin) who pretends to be a robot. The drama comes from the co-writer of Shine or Go Crazy and the PD of W-Two Worlds.

I’m Not a Robot airs Wednesday and Thursday on MBC.

AND SO YOU’RE UP TO DATE,OTHER DRAMAS THAT WILL BE ENDING IN JANUARY:

Jugglers

Jugglers follows the romance of a cold manager (Daniel Choi) who prefers to do all of his own work and a secretary Baek Jin Hee) who is always ready to jump in and help when needed.

Jugglers airs Monday and Tuesday on KBS.

Two Cops

Two Cops is a supernatural romance about a moral and upright detective (Jo Jung Suk) who ends up having his body inhabited by the ghost of a con artist. As he deals with that, he works to solve cases and falls for a reporter (Hyeri).

Two Cops airs Monday and Tuesday on MBC.

Nothing to Lose

Nothing to Lose follows a hot tempered rookie judge (Park Eun Bin) whose brother is framed for murder and then the brother is murdered too. She works to bring the truth to light and get justice. Also starring Yeon Woo Jin as a dedicated judge.

Nothing to Lose airs Wednesday and Thursday on SBS.

Untouchable

Untouchable tells the story of the Jang family who has had power in their city for several generations and focuses on the battle for power between them. Starring Jin Goo and Kim Sung Kyun.

Untouchable airs Friday and Saturday on JTBC.

Smart Prison Living

Smart Prison Living is a lighthearted black comedy that tells the stories of the everyday lives of prison inmates. Starring Jung Kyung Ho and Park Hae Soo.

Smart Prison Living airs Wednesday and Thursday on tvN.

Doubtful Victory

Doubtful Victory follows the story of a fake detective (Yoon Kyun Sang) who escapes from prison and joins an investigation unit. Also starring Jung Hye Sung as an investigator on the team.

Doubtful Victory airs Monday and Tuesday on SBS.

What dramas are you enjoying or looking forward to in January?

Make sure to get caught up because there are more dramas coming your way in February!

30 Responses to 10 Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching in January 2018

None of the upcoming kdramas seem that interesting. Why do all the romcom plots sound so boring? Idkn but I’ve sort of gone off the Korean crime shows as well. They all feel so cookie cutter similar in plot and tone that it’s like watching the same show but with different actors. ‘Smart Prison Living’ is on The List and I’ll probably check it out sometime soon.

I also think most rom-com plots sounds pretty generic. For me it just comes down to the actors, writing, and directing getting it right to make a generic story fun though. Most will be average, but a few will shine above the rest 🙂 I plan to eventually watch Smart Prison Living too. I do have quite a few ahead of it though, lol

Woohoo! The new year is here at last. Let’s hope that 2018 is going to be bringing a lot of good dramas our way, and of course happy new year. For me Bad Guys 2 is of course the one that I am looking forward to the most, but still no confirmation if I can see it though. Keeping my fingers crossed for it 😊

Radio Romance is my top pick too! It looks super cute and a bit different than the other rom-com settings (law offices, hospitals, etc) that have been airing recently. I haven’t started Hwayugi yet, but that’s also next on my list!

Now that’s some high praise 🙂 I’m going to start I’m Not a Robot in a couple weeks, and I’m so looking forward to it! It looks so cute and everyone seems to love it. Hoping it stays good for you and that I enjoy it too 🙂

So far Just Between Lovers is #1 for me. I’m Not a Robot is pretty good too. I finished Untouchable and liked it, would have liked more romance in it though and at times it seemed repetitious just like the current family drama I am watching, wow did that go off the rails for me. I recommend Just Between Lovers, it starts off kind of slow but the acting in it is amazing once it gets going. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Just Between Lovers just happens to be next up on my watch list 🙂 I plan to start it in a couple days. I’ve heard such good things about it, and I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much too. I’m also about halfway through I’m Not a Robot right now, and it is very cute and touching 🙂 I’m still undecided about Untouchable though. Haven’t seen a whole lot of reactions to it. I will have to try and find some so I can decide, hehe

I’m watching the Radio Romance and so far it’s very nice for me. I did finish I am not Robot and Black knight, however the ending for the latter was quite disappointing. But still it wont stop me waiting for new release and love more Kdrama’s. Hoping for more interesting new story.

Oh that’s good to hear! I’m planning to check out Radio Romance too 🙂 I really loved I’m Not a Robot and was sad to see it end. Haven’t tried Black Knight yet though. But yes, we always have hope for new and interesting kdramas to come along and just increase our love for them 🙂